Wisdom

"Ships from the Khanate are most common, but you see Chelonite vessels, Polythreme triremes with chained and sulky Unfinished Men, corsairs disposing of their miscreants, even one furtive Iremi skiff. The wardens pay them well for their prisoners."

Wisdom is a prison complex located in the Unterzee.

Guarded Carefully

"Nuppmiddt built this place as a prison for the Khanate. Now it answers only to its Governor, and its Governor answers to no one."

Wisdom is a dismal prison that was originally constructed by an individual named Nuppmiddt for the Khanate, but is now considered independent. Ships from all across the Unterzee, such as from the Chelonate, Polythreme, Irem, and even the Khanate itself, drop off their unwanted miscreants here. The wardens of Wisdom purchase arriving prisoners with their own money, as if they were slaves; the reasoning they provide for this odd business model is that they can use the prisoners for their labor, and perhaps their company.

Affairs at Wisdom are largely conducted by the Unctuous Fellow, who answers to the prison's leader, the Governor. Prisoners of Wisdom may be ransomed and sold to outsiders for an extremely high fee, though the Governor also accepts high-value secrets in lieu of payment.

Escaping or infiltrating Wisdom is an extremely daunting task, as the prison is surrounded by high walls and round-the-clock guards. Its most threatening form of security, however, is the group of voracious knot-oracles that surround the prison, gleefully eating anyone unfortunate enough to fall near their maws, or be selected as their next meal. The knot-oracles are known to have unique palates, so the staff of Wisdom employ cooks to prepare certain meals for them; enthusiasm is generally preferred over skill in this particular case.

The Governor

"There are some things we were not meant to know, they say. But you wouldn't be down here if you took that seriously." Beyond this point lie spoilers for Fallen London, Sunless Sea, Sunless Skies, or Mask of the Rose. This may include midgame or minor Fate-locked content. Proceed with caution. You can find out more about our spoiler policy here.

"The Governor sits rigid in a high-backed chair. His manner of dress is Khaganian; his face is concealed behind a smooth mask. He coughs frequently as you detail your Enigma, raising his gloved hand to his mouth. The room smells of mould and bat-guano."

A knot-oracle.

The Governor of Wisdom is a Khaganian man whose face is hidden behind a smooth mask; he rules over the prison with an iron fist from his quintuple-bolted office. The knot-oracles that surround Wisdom are able to speak in human tongues upon consuming a person, so they relay their victims' secrets to the Governor, who then sells these secrets for huge profits.

While the Governor is currently a free agent, he once worked for Arik of the Seven Against Nidah. The Governor stole a fleet of living ships from Polythreme, and Arik later commandeered this fleet to zail up the red river of Adam's Way, to spearhead an invasion against the Presbyterate's capital of Nidah. Unfortunately, this plan failed; Arik was forced into hiding, while the Governor, his face forever scarred, now lives on with a Polythremi bounty on his head.